3 Ways to Prepare Yourself for Rehab

Rehab is a chance for a new beginning. To get the most out of treatment, take time to accept the current situation for what it is and then find ways to be open to change.

Living with an addiction comes with its own set of rules. People spend a lot of time hiding their substance use and making excuses to family and friends. The secret life of addiction takes its toll in many ways—one outcome can be a feeling of shame and disconnectedness.

When a person knows it’s time to get help for addiction, she may feel relief about making a decision. Before anxiety or worry about the unknown set in, it’s important to take a deep breath and relax. Addiction treatment works because it’s designed to give people what they need to make changes and it keeps working when people get the support they need as time goes on.

Treatment is most effective from day one when a person is prepared for the process. Get empowered by taking the following three steps to make the most of rehab.

Accept Current Feelings About Change

Change is hard but it can be good in the right circumstances. The only person who can truly begin the process of healing is the person with the addiction. Unfortunately, the nature of the disease makes it tough to get started. Changes in the brain created by addictive substances give a person uncontrollable cravings, making it difficult to find the motivation to change the habit, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

At the beginning of treatment, certain things about the facility, staff or fellow patients may seem strange or uncomfortable. It’s okay to feel uncertain about a new place and new people, but it’s also important to accept the first part of treatment as the beginning of the process. Every person responds to treatment differently, but the individual stages offer structure and allow a person to set and achieve goals. So the first goal is to identify feelings of discomfort, uncertainty or skepticism. The ability to be completely honest about feelings and thoughts is the first step toward making a change.

Use the Power of Positive Thinking

Negative thoughts and feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy are known risk factors for addiction. It’s actually easier for the brain to focus on negative thought patterns than positive ones, a leftover from the need early humans had to be constantly aware of dangerous predators for survival, according to Psychology Today.

The destructive cycle created by negative thoughts, however, only leads people to feel depressed and make poor choices, such as substance use. Positive thoughts break this cycle, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Instead of dwelling on thoughts of failure or predicting negative things will happen, make the thoughts positive. Don’t get bogged down thinking about past mistakes, instead label each incident as an event in the past, and use it as an example of how to make better decisions in the future. Everyone makes mistakes, there’s no reason to expect perfection.

Stay Safe, Leave Withdrawal to Rehab

The behavioral and physical aspects of addiction are closely intertwined. Some drugs are more physically addictive than others and require medically monitored detox. For example, people with severe addictions to alcohol, sedatives and tranquilizers could experience life-threatening symptoms such as seizures or coma when coming off the drug, according to WebMD.

It’s natural to want to stop using substances before entering treatment, but there could be serious health consequences associated with stopping without help. In addition, health insurers may require a person to be currently experiencing symptoms in order to cover treatment.

Use the time before treatment as a way to discover safe and effective self-relaxation strategies. Some people enjoy yoga or watching movies or just hanging out with friends. It’s easier to accept the uncertainty of the future after taking the time to unwind.

Need Help Finding Addiction Treatment?

Even though millions of Americans meet the criteria for having an addiction, only a small percentage of people ever get treated. Programs that make treatment more accessible and cost effective are valuable resources for a person who needs care. Treatment programs that offer evidence-based therapies give patients the best chance at staying sober longer.

Addiction is a chronic disease that requires physical and psychological treatments for the best possible outcomes. While there is no single method for treating addiction, there are many scientific treatments that offer excellent outcomes and reduce the chance of relapse. The best treatments must be tailored to meet each person’s needs. Users also benefit from services that teach coping skills and ways to avoid relapse.

If you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction, give our admissions coordinators a call. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to offer advice on the best treatment options. With a number of addiction treatment options available, there is no excuse to avoid seeking help. Call today.